11 Emerging Artists Making Waves This Autumn

Keiran Brennan Hinton - A Week in March, 2023 - Charles Moffett

11 Emerging Artists Making Waves This Autumn

very autumn, with the resurgence of the art fair season and the unveiling of ambitious exhibitions in galleries, a new wave of promising talent captures the spotlight in the art world. This year is no exception, as numerous artists who have recently joined gallery rosters are set to showcase their debut solo exhibitions, while others are preparing to unveil fresh bodies of work at prestigious international art fairs like The Armory Show, Frieze Seoul, and Frieze London.

In this feature, we introduce 11 of these exciting artists whom we’ll be closely following this autumn.

Woo Hannah

Born in 1988, Daejeon, South Korea. Currently resides and works in Seoul.

Following her highly acclaimed solo presentation at Frieze’s No.9 Cork Street venue in London this spring, Korean fiber artist Woo Hannah is poised to make a significant impact at Frieze Seoul. She has been honored as the recipient of Frieze Seoul’s inaugural Artist Award and will unveil her award-winning creation, “The Great Ballroom” (2023), at the upcoming September fair. Additionally, Woo will showcase her talent in a solo booth hosted by G Gallery.

“The Great Ballroom” is an extension of Woo’s ongoing series titled “Milk and Honey,” characterized by elegantly draped fabric swathes suspended from above. In typical Woo fashion, this installation artfully evokes the human body, striking a balance between reverence and whimsy. The contours of the fabric allude to the form of breasts, while the vibrant soft-sculpture adornments playfully resemble dribbles of milk. Drawing inspiration from Rococo paintings by artists like Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Woo employs luxurious, satiny materials and decorative shirring that intentionally draws attention to its inherent beauty. Through this artwork, Woo delves into the themes of aging and bodily transformation, prompting viewers to question the societal perception of shirred fabric layers as beautiful while often disregarding the beauty of aging and wrinkled skin.

After completing her MFA at Korea National University of Arts in 2016, Woo has primarily exhibited her work in Seoul, with solo exhibitions at venues such as G Gallery and Art Space BOAN earlier this year. Her prominent presence at Frieze will introduce her artistry to a broader international audience, marking an exciting juncture in her burgeoning career.

—Olivia Horn

Keiran Brennan Hinton

Born in 1992, Toronto. Currently resides and works in New York and Elgin, Canada.

Keiran Brennan Hinton is making significant waves this autumn, firmly establishing himself as an artist to watch. The Canadian artist is set to unveil his solo exhibition, titled “A Break in the Clouds” (September 8th–October 21st), at New York’s Charles Moffett gallery. This exhibition marks a significant milestone, as it is his first since the gallery began representing him last year. Brennan Hinton’s stunning paintings, created en plein air, have been gaining recognition on the international art stage. His solo booth at Charles Moffett during the Felix Art Fair in Los Angeles in February was a resounding success, selling out quickly. In addition, he held solo exhibitions in 2022 at Tokyo’s Maki Gallery and Montreal’s Galerie Nicolas Robert. Notably, his large new painting depicting a sun-drenched living room took center stage at Charles Moffett’s NADA New York booth in May.

Brennan Hinton’s artistic practice can be described as a quest to discover beauty in the ordinary. As a true plein air painter, he is known for carrying his paints wherever he goes, always prepared to capture the essence of a lush forest, a moonlit lake, or even an unassuming bedside table—all with the same unwavering dedication. In his depictions of everyday life, Brennan Hinton exhibits a remarkable ability to capture light and seemingly suspend time. His works offer glimpses of, or perhaps pay homage to, the artistic influences that have shaped his practice, including the likes of Pierre Bonnard, Ann Craven, Lois Dodd, and David Hockney, among others.

This new exhibition follows Brennan Hinton’s participation in the Beecher Residency, a prestigious artist residency program established by collectors John Auerbach and Ed Tang, renowned for nurturing emerging talent.

—Casey Lesser

Laetitia Yhap

Born in 1941, London. Currently resides and works in Hastings, England.

Since the 1970s, Laetitia Yhap has been capturing the essence of the local fishing community in Hastings, a charming coastal town on the southeast coast of England. Her artistic journey began in the 1960s when she relocated from London to Hastings, and it was there that she discovered her profound muse—the evolving fishing industry. Yhap’s artistry beautifully reflects the transformation of this industry over the years, transitioning from traditional fishing tools like wooden boats to contemporary alternatives crafted from steel. Her canvas compositions, often adopting unconventional shapes reminiscent of furniture panels, offer unadulterated glimpses into the daily life of the local fishing community. These intimate and contemplative portrayals celebrate the men and boys for whom Hastings serves as both a workplace and a social hub.

Over her extensive career, Yhap’s artwork has graced the walls of esteemed U.K. institutions, including the Serpentine, Hayward Gallery, and Whitechapel Gallery. Her work has also found a home in the renowned Tate collection, among others. However, this autumn heralds a new chapter for the 82-year-old artist. Laetitia Yhap recently announced her representation by Hales Gallery in London, and her inaugural solo exhibition at the gallery, titled “Keeping Company,” is set to open on September 2nd. This debut exhibition at Hales Gallery will shine a spotlight on Yhap’s handcrafted panel paintings from the 1980s and ’90s, including the titular painting that encapsulates the essence of the show. This large-scale narrative scene, reminiscent of a fresco, exudes a serene camaraderie, featuring several men gathered around a fishing boat against a backdrop of white-clouded skies—whether toiling away or lost in contemplation. Furthermore, Yhap’s artistry will also be showcased at Hales’s booth at Frieze London later this year.

—Josie Thaddeus-Johns

Marina Rheingantz

Born in 1983, Araraquara, Brazil. Currently resides and works in São Paulo.

Marina Rheingantz is set to mark her solo show debut in the U.K. with a prime slot at White Cube in Mason’s Yard during the course of London’s Frieze Week. “Maré,” which runs from October 10th through November 11th, caps a remarkable rise for the Brazilian artist, who was signed to the mega-gallery’s roster in August.

Rheingantz works with a variety of media, including paintings and tapestries, to evoke ambiguous, semi-abstract images of sea cliffs, bodies of water, mountain regions, and arid wastelands. Her paintings are often inspired by her childhood memories of growing up in rural Brazil, where she would often travel across the country and study the landscape. Dense with paint and often expansive in scale, these works are characterized by their rich surface texture and dissolution of image, reminiscent of Cy Twombly’s distinctive markmaking. In another series of smaller-scale tapestries, shown as part of “Sedimentar” at Fortes d’Aloia & Gabriel last year, she turns those brushstrokes into rhythmic stitches, scattered across an embroidered canvas.

In a separate series of smaller-scale tapestries, previously featured in the “Sedimentar” exhibition at Fortes d’Aloia & Gabriel last year, Rheingantz transforms her brushstrokes into rhythmic stitches that meander across embroidered canvases, creating captivating patterns that beckon viewers to explore their intricate details.

Marina Rheingantz’s “Maré” exhibition promises to be a compelling exploration of her distinctive artistic vision, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in her evocative landscapes and intricate textures.

Modupeola Fadugba

Born in 1985 in Lomé, Togo. Currently divides her time between Philadelphia and Abuja, Nigeria.

Modupeola Fadugba’s captivating artistry seamlessly blends social practice with painting and drawing, delving into the intricate cultural history of the swimming pool and unraveling its symbolism through the lens of diverse generations and geographical contexts. Born in Togo, Fadugba has embarked on remarkable collaborations with the Harlem Honeys and Bears, a synchronized swim team comprised of older adults, as well as with young swimmers in Nigeria. Her creative arsenal includes acrylic, graphite, gold leaf, and burning techniques, which she employs to craft exquisite portrayals of figures immersed in water. Notably, Fadugba’s compositions often shroud the individual identities of her swimmers, emphasizing the notions of collectivity and cooperation that underlie her artistic exploration.

This month, Fadugba will present a curated selection of these thought-provoking works in a solo exhibition hosted by Lagos’s kó at The Armory Show, marking a significant addition to her ongoing exploration of the pool as a subject matter. Her fascination with this theme has been a driving force in her artistic journey for several years, taking center stage in previous solo exhibitions at Ed Cross Fine Art in London (2017) and Gallery 1957 in Accra (2018). More recently, Fadugba showcased her creations from the “Synchronized Swimmers” series at this year’s Dallas Art Fair.

—O.H.

mosie romney

Born in 1994 in New York. Currently resides and works in New York.

This upcoming fall season holds great promise for mosie romney as they prepare for their debut solo exhibition with P.P.O.W. The announcement of their representation by the gallery earlier this year marked a significant milestone in the artist’s career. Renowned for their ability to paint intricate and enigmatic imaginary spaces that exist in a captivating realm between figuration and abstraction, romney fosters a mesmerizing dialogue between the real and the fantastical. Their art challenges conventional perceptions of time, memory, and self-awareness. Drawing from their background in set design and puppetry, romney has developed a distinctive painting style that orchestrates visual landscapes, inviting viewers to redefine the boundaries of their emotions and cognitive experiences.

In the forthcoming solo exhibition, titled “Rhizome St. / Fugue Avenue,” the artist delves deeper into their imaginative storytelling. The exhibition references maps and interiors, with a particular focus on opera houses, as well as symbols drawn from cartoons, myths, and cultural narratives. Within these compositions, figures come to life amidst landscapes that navigate the intricate terrains of psychological alienation and transformation. With their artwork already finding a place in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions like the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, mosie romney is undoubtedly poised to solidify their status as a compelling and influential voice in contemporary art this fall.

—J.T.J.

Pam Evelyn

Born in 1996, Surrey, United Kingdom. Currently resides and works in London.

Pam Evelyn stands at the forefront of the art world’s current spotlight on female artists specializing in abstraction. Her rapid ascent in the art scene commenced after she completed her MA in painting program at London’s prestigious Royal College of Art in 2020. Recently, her journey reached a new pinnacle with the announcement of her representation by the renowned Pace gallery, coupled with her inaugural solo exhibition at the gallery’s London location this September. Titled “A Handful of Dust” and running from September 6th to the 30th, this exhibition will encompass two floors, offering a profound insight into the artist’s captivating artistic practice.

Evelyn’s approach to painting is nothing short of intensive. Over several months, she takes a physically engaging stance towards expansive canvases, employing multiple cycles of painting, scraping, and repainting. Through this meticulous process, she works and reworks the medium until her final expressive strokes seem to pulsate with life, leaping off the canvas. Some of her works incorporate collage elements, with canvas strips adding to the overall richness of textures.

The past few years have been transformative for Evelyn, as her works have graced the walls of influential galleries across Europe and the United Kingdom, including MASSIMODECARLO (with whom she collaborates in Italy), The Approach, and Peres Projects.

Earlier this year, she received a prestigious commission from the Whitechapel Gallery to create new etchings in conjunction with the major exhibition “Action, Gesture, Paint: Women Artists and Global Abstraction 1940–1970.” Furthermore, in 2023, her art has been featured in two notable group exhibitions: “The Reason for Painting” at the Warwick Arts Centre and “New British Abstraction” at the Center of International Contemporary Art in Vancouver, Canada.

—C.L.

Sydney Vernon

Born in 1995, Prince George’s County, Maryland. Currently resides and works in Baltimore.

This autumn, Baltimore-based artist Sydney Vernon is set to unveil her debut solo exhibition at Kapp Kapp, marking a significant moment since her inclusion in the gallery’s esteemed roster in January. This exhibition, her second solo show in New York, will introduce a fresh compilation of works on paper, representing Vernon’s first substantial body of work since 2020.

With a masterful use of pastel, colored pencil, and ink, Vernon embarks on a captivating exploration of self and narrative, deeply intertwined with personal and generational histories. Her creative process often commences with vintage family portraits or snapshots of everyday moments captured in old photographs. From these initial images, she expands her artistic journey, seamlessly integrating silhouettes drawn from cultural and historical events. In doing so, she weaves together the personal and the universal, creating a singular tapestry of shared human experience. Much like the feminist artist Lorraine O’Grady, who made her mark in 1970s New York and serves as one of Vernon’s inspirations, she employs the diptych format to delve into the complexities of truth and history, offering her unique perspective.

For instance, in “Kitchen Table” (2023), an ink and pastel piece from her forthcoming Kapp Kapp exhibition, Vernon captures the essence of intimate yet elusive memories. Here, one of the three central figures is rendered in meticulous detail, while the other two remain anonymous, their faces elusive and difficult to pinpoint.

Vernon has previously made her mark in New York, participating in prominent group exhibitions such as “Black Femme: Sovereign of WAP and the Virtual Realm” at Canada Gallery in 2021, along with a solo show at Thierry Goldberg Gallery in 2020. This year has witnessed Vernon’s remarkable momentum, with her work featured in a group exhibition at Sargent’s Daughters in L.A., marking the inaugural exhibition in its new space.

—J.T.J.

Tetsuya Ishida

Born in 1973, Shizuoka, Japan. Passed away in 2005, Tokyo.

Tetsuya Ishida’s artistic legacy has transcended borders with solo exhibitions held at prestigious venues, from the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco to the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. He has also left a profound mark through his participation in esteemed events such as the Gwangju Biennale and the Venice Biennale. Since his untimely passing in 2005, Ishida’s reputation has continued to ascend, solidified by the recent announcement of Gagosian’s representation of the artist’s estate. Notably, Gagosian’s 2013 exhibition of Ishida’s work in Hong Kong marked a groundbreaking moment, drawing international attention to his remarkable body of work.

This autumn, a significant event is on the horizon—a new solo exhibition at Gagosian’s New York gallery. Titled “Tetsuya Ishida: My Anxious Self” and curated by Cecilia Alemani, this exhibition promises to be the most extensive presentation of Ishida’s work outside of Japan. Its timing coincides with what would have been the artist’s 50th birthday, adding an extra layer of significance to the showcase.

Ishida’s career, tragically cut short, offers a profound exploration of the nihilism and desolation that characterized Japan’s “Lost Decade” in the 1990s. His surrealistic creations often feature self-referential characters ensnared in nightmarish, Kafkaesque settings. These works dissect the dehumanizing impact of sweeping social and technological transformations. The characters Ishida brings to life in his art are haunting amalgamations of humans, animals, and machines, serving as poignant allegories for a society in a state of profound transition.

—J.T.J.

Trevor Yeung

Born in 1988, Guangdong Province, China. Currently resides and works in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong-based artist Trevor Yeung is on the cusp of a breakthrough moment, set to make his mark with his inaugural solo exhibition in the United Kingdom. Titled “Soft Ground,” this exhibition will be hosted at Gasworks in London from September 28th to December 17th. Yeung embarks on a journey into the intricate realm of social dynamics, navigating the intersections of botanic ecology, horticulture, and photography. Through his immersive installation works, he reshapes our understanding of power, control, and intimacy, inviting viewers to delve into these complex themes.

Within the exhibition, a meticulously crafted soap cast replica of North London’s infamous “fuck tree” from Hampstead Heath takes center stage. This tree, smoothed over time by frequent use, serves as a unique entry point for exploring London’s gay cruising culture. By infusing the gallery space with a captivating blend of earthy scents, Yeung’s sculptural installation becomes a compelling invitation to challenge societal norms surrounding desire, longing, and shame.

Trevor Yeung has already garnered attention on the international stage, leaving an indelible mark at prestigious events such as the 2022 Singapore Biennale, where he presented a site-specific installation—a greenhouse designed to accommodate pandemic-purchased houseplants that had become unwanted. His burgeoning reputation is set to solidify further as he represents Hong Kong at the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024. Additionally, Yeung was recently shortlisted for The Sigg Prize 2023, a distinguished accolade celebrating artists from the Greater China region.

—J.T.J.

Alexander James

Born in 1993, London. Currently resides and works in London.

Alexander James recently made a significant mark in the art world by participating in a group exhibition at Marlborough London, showcasing portraiture alongside modern masters of the genre such as Celia Paul, Lucian Freud, and Frank Auerbach. As autumn approaches, the gallery is set to present a solo exhibition by this emerging artist, titled “Tuck Shop for the Wicked,” commencing on September 23rd. This captivating show delves into James’s family history, expanding upon intimate memories through imagined scenarios across eight vivid and gestural canvases.

The title of the exhibition, “Tuck Shop for the Wicked,” alludes to a sweet shop, much like the one owned by the artist’s great-grandfather—a place of enduring fascination for James. It was during the pandemic that he wholeheartedly devoted himself to painting. Compositional inspiration for this new series of works draws from the artist’s early childhood visits to the British Museum, where he found admiration in the classical forms of busts, friezes, and entablatures. These classical shapes form the foundation of his vibrant canvases, brought to life by sweeping, thick brushstrokes that conjure a captivating array of mixed-up and metamorphic forms.

As Alexander James’s artistic journey gains momentum, with notable recognition from the London media and a growing Instagram following, he is poised to have a second showcase of his work in New York this autumn. In a group exhibition featuring abstract paintings, he will be paired with artists like Rachel Garrard and Cleve Gray, set to open at Room 57 Gallery in September.

—J.T.J.

11 Emerging Artists Making Waves This Autumn